BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:49 pm Post subject: 'MARTA # 462'

As always, I have my friend and ardent bus memorabilia collector Bruce K. of eBay to thank for the wonderful attachment below.

Seen somewhere (post 1972) in Atlanta Georgia's environs is fleet number 462 - a 1957 GM Coach Model TDH 5105 (ser# 2931) operating for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) - successor to Atlanta Transit System, Inc.

# 462 and twenty four of its siblings numbered from 443 to 467 were purchased used in 1972 from the Cleveland Transit System in an attempt by newly formed MARTA to scramble for used buses to beef up Atlanta's sagging service.

Of note on # 462 (formerly Cleveland # 1721) are passenger safety split sashes, push open exit doors and a touch of 'Silversides' which is rarely seen divided by a rear door.

New York bus watchers will note the similarity in livery to Queens/Nassau Transit Lines of the same era - a very popular color combination.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

buslist · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:45 pm Post subject: Re: 'MARTA # 462'

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:39 am Post subject: Re: 'MARTA # 462'

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 3:16 pm Post subject:

Apparently, life was not quite over for some of the 5105's that found their way to Atlanta from Cleveland and Columbus as well.

Reports have it that at least four if not more then traveled on to Los Angeles to join the Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD) to help fill in while that authority awaited a shipment of new Flxibles.

I'll tell you one thing about these buses; they sure took a licking and kept on ticking! (slogan borrowed from the Timex Corporation).

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

JimmiB · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 1:52 am Post subject:

You're right Mr.L,
Old Looks were built to last. In 1994 I was driving a 1954 4512 still in regular daily service. How many of todays buses will still be on the road in 2051 ???
Yeah, I'm old enough to remember the Timex commercials with John Cameron Swazey.

timecruncher · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 11:33 am Post subject:

I believe that some of these went to Cincinnati as well and ran there for a few years until replacment Flxible new looks showed up.

timecruncher

JimmiB · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:43 am Post subject:

Sort of a coincidence there. The 4512 that I mentioned in a previous post ended up in the Cincinnati bus museum.